Apple Charging Forward With Solar Powered Devices

There is a whole lot of sun, and Apple would like to use some of its rays to charge your mobile device. This has been a targeted technology for Cupertino since at least 2009, when Apple won its first solar powered portables patent. Now, apparently, solar charging cells on future generation portable Apple devices might just see the light of day.

According to a report from DigiTimes today, Apple has progressed past simply "evaluating" if solar technolgoy was feasable for portable devices, and is now considering “inclusion of Taiwan-based solar firms in [its] supply chain.”

Before you break out the sunscreen, it appears solar cells on your iPhone are still a ways away. According to various Taiwan-based solar firms, this market needs "a longer time to develop." Making solar cells that can efficiently generate power and be cost effective is the challenge, and according to the article, "the products are still in labs for further experimentation."